He spent the ensuing hours getting acquainted with equipment he hadn’t worn in years, learning a position he has never played and enduring a spotlight unlike any other.

The last player to leave the field after practice, Williams (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) was swarmed by reporters and had representatives from radio stations lining up for an interview.

With that, he began what he hopes will be the unlikeliest of paths onto the Cowboys’ roster.

“It’s just a great feeling to be back on the field ... and to compete with the best in the world,” said Williams, a four-time All-American sprinter whose best shot at making the team probably is on the practice squad.

Williams’ speed is why he’s here, as he once ran a time of 9.90 seconds in the 100 meters and said he recently clocked in at 4.26 and 4.27 in the 40-yard dash.

It made him the talk of camp Thursday, even eliciting a light-hearted challenge from kicker David Buehler, who smoked a defensive back in a race at camp last year.

“There were three things (we liked),” said Stephen Jones, executive vice president and director of player personnel. “The first was speed, and I forgot the other two.”

Williams’ speed is unquestioned, but he understandably showed rust in other areas. He dropped the first ball thrown his way in defensive back drills, for example.

That he’s here at all is surprising.

In June, Williams wrapped up his fourth and final season of track at UTSA. With one year of NCAA Division I eligibility left in a different sport, he turned his attention to football. Before breaking his ankle in high school, he had received interest from several Big 12 schools.